Preparation of reports, notes, periodicals and maps for dissemination of data.

Creating awareness on groundwater management at grass root level.

Special studies on impact of artificial recharge structures.

Q.4: What is the total availability of ground water resources in Andhra Pradesh?

Ans: Estimated annual available ground water resources is 34.70 Billion Cubic Meter
(BCM) and utilization for all purposes is 14.10 BCM. Stage of groundwater development
in the State is 41%. In Non-Command area it is 59% where as in Command area it is
21%. ( As per GEC-2007 estimations)

Q.5: What is stage of ground water development?

Ans: The stage of ground water is ratio of Annual Ground Water Draft and Net Annual
Ground Water Availability in percentage.

Q.6: What is the Groundwater Assessment Unit in Andhra Pradesh?

Ans: Assessment unit is a watershed with an area from 100 to 300 Sq.Kms Andhra Pradesh
is divided in to 1229 micro watersheds for the assessment of groundwater resources.

Q.7: What are over-exploited, critical and semi critical units?

The ground water resources are assessed in units i.e villages/mandals/watersheds.
These assessment units are categorized for ground water development based on two
criteria -a) stage of ground water development, and b) long-term of pre and post
monsoon water levels. The long term ground water level trends are computed generally
for the period of 10 years. The significant rate of water level decline are taken
between 10 to 20 cm per year depending upon the local hydrogeological conditions.
There are four categories, namely -'Safe' areas which have ground water potential
for development; 'Semi-critical' areas where cautious groundwater development is
recommended; 'Critical' areas; and 'Over-exploited' areas, where there should be
intensive monitoring and evaluation and future ground development be linked with
water conservation measures. The details of criteria for categorization of assessment
units are given in following Table –

S.No

Stage of ground water dev.(%)

Long term decline

Categorised

1

<= 70%

No

No

Safe

YES/NO

NO/YES

To be reassessed

YES

YES

To be reassessed

2

> 70% and <= 90%

No

No

Safe

YES/NO

NO/YES

SEMI-CRITICAL

YES

YES

To be reassessed

3

90% and <= 100%

No

No

To be reassessed

YES/NO

NO/YES

SEMI-CRITICAL

YES

YES

CRITICAL

4

>100%

NO

NO

To be reassessed

YES/NO

NO/YES

O E

YES

YES

O E

Q 8: What is need for rain water harvesting and artificial recharge of ground water?

Ans: The need for adopting rain water harvesting is –

To overcome the inadequacy of surface water to meet our demands.

To arrest decline in ground water levels.

To enhance availability of ground water at specific place and time and utilize rain
water for sustainable development.

To increase infiltration of rainwater in the subsoil which has decreased drastically
in urban areas due to paving of open area.

To improve ground water quality by dilution.

To increase agriculture production.

To improve ecology of the area by increase in vegetation cover etc.

Q 9: What is the role of Ground Water Department under APWALTA?

Ans: Registration of all the existing Rigs in the Andhra Pradesh State.

Notification of areas for implementing the Act.

Providing the list of areas for Notification.

Selection of well sites before drilling.

Providing technical opinion in case of disputes.

Joint inspection prior to leasing of sand reaches for mining.

Q 10: What is the procedure for sinking of new wells?

On payment of Rs.100/- towards application fee to Mandal Revenue Officer, the farmer
will apply permission for new well in Form – 2 along with a demand draft for
Rs.1000/- in the name of concerned District Deputy Director, Ground Water Department,
towards groundwater survey charges.

Only after clearance from APTRANSCO and Spacing norms satisfied by MRO, then the
MRO will forward the application to the concerned District Deputy Director Ground
Water Department to conduct investigations for groundwater feasibility.

After groundwater investigations are completed, the feasibility report will be forwarded
to the MRO for according permission in Form 3.

The District Ground Water Department shall take up joint inspection along with officials
of Mines & Geology Department and other concerned line departments whenever cases
are referred by concerned District Level Sand Committee to study the impact of sand
mining in an area and shall give its recommendations.

Sand mining is prohibited in notified Over Exploited ground water micro-basins except
for local use in the villages of higher order streams like Godavari, Krishna and
Pennar etc.

Permission to quarry sand shall not be granted within 500 m from any ground water
extraction structure either for irrigation or for drinking water purposes.